episode_0076

‘…This, well.’

‘…’

‘Hmm.’

‘…’

‘What should I do?’

‘I don’t know, don’t ask me…’

We exchanged meanings with just our eyes. In this moment, I had actually reached a state where I could read Cheon Soyul’s thoughts and she mine.

At my awkward glance, Cheon Soyul drooped her head low and covered her face with her palms.

Her reaction, as if she had utterly given up on everything, was incredibly unfamiliar to me as well.

No matter how much it was Cheon Soyul, was it inevitable that she would be utterly embarrassed in front of her parents?

‘Or is it because she did something wrong?’

Both possibilities made sense. I had my own concerns, and she had hers, so it was no wonder that she couldn’t meet Cheon Sehee’s eyes.

It’s a thought I keep repeating, but if I had known it would come to this, I should have just defeated her with pure ice magic, without using fusion magic.

Or just lost altogether. If so, I wouldn’t have had a reason to kneel like a beast being dragged to the slaughterhouse, looking so unsightly.

‘…Hahaha.’

I had now entered a state of selflessness. That’s a rather grand way of putting it, but to be more blunt, it was more like I just had no thoughts at all.

I couldn’t figure out what to do. I was even afraid to read Cheon Sehee’s intentions.

She must already know that there’s a strange flow between Cheon Soyul and me.

Just thinking about Cheon Soyul’s ‘that’ sudden mention of an adopted son-in-law during the last vacation season.

She might be thinking of me as a potential lover for her daughter, or perhaps she’s already concluded that our relationship is indeed that of lovers.

Either way, it was an awkward situation. Putting myself aside, wasn’t Cheon Soyul’s position made difficult?

As I’ve said repeatedly, I don’t want that.

‘Good grief… What a fool.’

I sighed inwardly. This is spilled water now [an idiom meaning what’s done is done].

Meaning, there’s no way to pick it up.

So what should I do? In fact, wasn’t the answer already decided?

“…”

I ended the brief silence and slowly raised my head, which I had kept bowed as if I had no face to show, waiting for the other person to speak.

As if she had been waiting for me, Cheon Sehee’s gaze poured down on me…

‘It’s simple.’

I didn’t particularly feel any strong emotions within it. However, it certainly couldn’t be called a benevolent gaze.

Reluctantly, I swallowed dryly, but met her gaze directly.

…To put it simply, I was the guy who stole Cheon Soyul’s magic and used it.

And it was derived from a special ability, a method of copying abilities through sexual intercourse.

But there’s no need to explain all the details. And I shouldn’t. What I needed to focus on was only the future relationship between Cheon Soyul and me.

I don’t know what Cheon Sehee wants. Because I don’t know her as a person.

Nevertheless, one thing was clear: the answer ‘I,’ this scoundrel, had to give ‘now.’

Somehow, I felt I could confidently say I knew that much for sure.

From the very moment I entered this place… the moment I saw Cheon Soyul kneeling and looking pained.

I had been replaying only a single memory in my mind.

It wasn’t an old memory.

Of course, it was just the day before.

Before our match began, the brief incident in the waiting room. And the definitive answer I heard from her at that moment.

-I-I’ll tell you everything. Just like you said, I’ll confess everything later, in a bit…

With an embarrassed and mortified expression, yet as if she also had something she wanted to say, I remembered her trying hard to muster the courage to speak. Even if I wanted to forget it, I couldn’t.

And in that brief moment, what did I think? What feelings of hers did I confirm?

‘…Cheon Soyul.’

I gently closed my eyes for a moment, lost in thought. The girl I’d spent a year with. My closest companion, my ‘bad friend’ [a close friend with whom one gets into trouble] at this Cheongsong Academy.

It wasn’t a very long time.

But I can guarantee that the density of the bond I formed while spending that year with Cheon Soyul was by no means shallow.

And over that year we spent together, how could I not have felt special emotions?

Could I assert that there were no romantic feelings exchanged between us, as is common between genders? It was impossible.

I definitely saw Cheon Soyul as a woman, and that fact hadn’t changed even now.

…And if so.

Then, what about Cheon Soyul?

At this point, I opened my closed eyes.

Only then did I turn my gaze.

The figure of Cheon Soyul herself came into view. Her light brown hair and golden eyes, which I liked, were her unique symbols.

But even in this situation, her still hesitant appearance was quite amusing.

Well, anyway.

‘…What about you?’

There was one thing I wanted to know. How did she truly think of me?

Was it no different from me? Did she share the same feelings as me? Did she like me?

After a brief moment of dazed contemplation, I sharply pulled myself together. It was sudden, but my chaotic mind felt completely clear.

“Hah.”

Then, I let out a hollow laugh.

Cheon Soyul’s feelings for me?

Regarding that, well. Honestly, I might deserve to be called arrogant.

But to put it simply, I could assert it without an ounce of hesitation.

Cheon Soyul definitely likes me.

That was a fact I had known from before.

Our relationship was one I couldn’t help but vaguely realize. The opposite was probably also true. She probably knew my feelings too.

I harbored feelings for her, and she, too, liked me.

The only thing that surprised me yesterday was… that Cheon Soyul’s feelings were greater, deeper, and more profound than I had imagined.

This explanation has been truly long and verbose, but ah. So, what’s the conclusion?

There was only one action I needed to take in this situation. I firmed my resolve.

It might be the wrong choice, but my will at this moment was firm…

“…Eh?!”

With that, I snatched Cheon Soyul’s delicate hand, which she had placed on her knees.

As expected, Cheon Soyul, clearly showing her bewilderment, whipped her head toward me.

Her mother’s eyes also narrowed considerably, and from behind, a fierce killing intent, presumed to be from the student council president, intensified.

…It really stung quite a bit.

Anyway.

‘Hoo.’

I took a deep breath inwardly and looked up at Cheon Sehee. One hand was politely on my knee, and with the other, I boldly held Cheon Soyul’s hand.

And then, I began with a short phrase.

“──Mother-in-law.”

“?”

Cheon Sehee showed a question mark in response.

“Please grant me your daughter’s hand.”

“??”

“!!?”

At the next words I spoke, the entire assembly immediately erupted. Very grandly and spectacularly.

Above the heads of Cheon Sehee and the three siblings below her, a dozen or so question marks floated up.

But I had no intention of retracting my words. Not enough to take back what I had just blurted out. I wasn’t regretting the declaration I had just made.

I felt Cheon Soyul’s grip on my hand unconsciously tighten, but I didn’t care. I’d already done it anyway.

I turned to look at Cheon Soyul, and her eyes were wide open, as she repeatedly opened and closed her mouth.

She suddenly raised her voice and yelled.

“Hey, you, you, you, what kind of, crazy…? Are you in your right mind?!”

Her words were tangled and she bit her tongue, but it seemed her intention was one thing. She seemed to be asking if I was in my right mind.

Unfortunately, I was maintaining a very normal state of consciousness. Do you think I’m a wizard for nothing?

Anyway, the conclusion after a long deliberation was, quite simple.

I harbored feelings for Cheon Soyul.

‘Hmm.’

Maybe?

For now.

…Even while holding such feelings, the fact that I touched several other girls, and harbored my own feelings for them as well, the fact that I’m such a tremendous jerk aside for now.

With those romantic feelings, this incident had erupted.

‘The best course of action would have been for me not to use Heavenly Thunder at that time… But that’s meaningless now that things have already happened.’

Ultimately, since I had used Heavenly Thunder in that place, I needed to redefine my relationship with Cheon Soyul in some way. Otherwise, I would have to completely carve out a new mana circuit.

Awakened noble families usually don’t like it when pure outsiders use their unique magic. Which is only natural, if you think about it.

In any case, for that reason, I made a difficult decision. To confront it head-on.

No, given how things turned out, wasn’t there truly no other way but a frontal breakthrough?

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh, and offered Cheon Sehee a faint smile.

“I will become Soyul’s adopted son-in-law.”

“…”

“Please accept me, Mother-in-law.”

My final words were uttered thus, and Cheon Sehee, having heard everything, maintained a strange, inscrutable expression in silence.

Ah, and then-.

“Choke, gasp, wheeze…!? Urgh!?”

Cheon Soyul suddenly malfunctioned on her own.

Though she still had a long way to go before truly breaking down…

‘I’ve used her for quite a while, haven’t I?’

And heavily, too.

My very own Pikachu, who handled my endless libido. Her performance was undeniably of the highest caliber. It was the best possible compatibility.

So, I simply held her hand gently. Sincerely hoping it would be a comfort to her.

“…! …!!”

As I continued to gaze at her with a rather pitiable expression, Cheon Soyul suddenly grabbed the back of her neck and couldn’t close her mouth.

It seems I should stop teasing her now.

I let out a light chuckle, and once again fixed my gaze on Cheon Sehee in front of me.

“…”

“…”

Now, it was time to hear the decision-maker’s answer.